“Breaking Rabies Barriers”
A deadly but preventable disease, Rabies has long been a significant concern for public health around the world. World Rabies Day, celebrated annually, serves as a reminder of the global efforts needed to eradicate this virus and protect both human and animal populations. This year, as we mark the day, it’s important to reflect on the history of the disease, global and local efforts, and ways individuals can contribute to its prevention.
Rabies has been a recognized disease for thousands of years, with the first written accounts dating back to ancient Mesopotamia. However, it wasn’t until the late 19th century that French chemist and microbiologist Louis Pasteur made a groundbreaking discovery – he developed the first rabies vaccine in a 1885, a landmark moment in medical history that paved the way for prevention methods still used today.
World Rabies Day was first announced in 2007 by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC) to promote awareness and action for rabies prevention worldwide. Held annually on September 28th, the date was chosen to commemorate the death of Louis Pasteur, whose work continues to save lives to this day.
Despite being preventable, rabies claims tens of thousands of lives each year, with the majority of cases occurring in rural areas of Africa and Asia. Over 90% of human rabies cases are the result of dog bites, and children under 15 are particularly at risk. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), ab estimated 59,000 people die from rabies annually. However, the vast majority of these deaths could be avoided through vaccination, public awareness, and swift action after exposure.
Prevention remains the most effective strategy in combating rabies. Public education about vaccination, both for pets and at-risk populations, plays a critical role. The availability of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) has drastically reduced rabies fatalities in numerous countries, bur challenges persist in resource-limited areas.
Vaccination of domestic dogs is another vital component of rabies control. In high-risk areas, only about 40% of dogs are vaccinated, far below the 70% coverage needed to break the transmission cycle. Community outreach programs, particularly in rural areas, emphasizes recognizing rabies symptoms in animals – such as sudden aggression, fear of water, and excessive salivation – and encourage reporting sick or stray animals to the authorities.
On the local front, the Ministry of Agriculture has been steadfast in its rabies prevention efforts. As World Rabies Day approaches, the ministry has renewed its call for vigilance and cooperation among the public. In a recent statement, officials emphasized the importance of pet vaccination, particularly for dogs, which are the primary carriers of rabies in our communities. The ministry’s message is one of responsibility and collaboration: “By vaccinating the dogs we own, the risk of infection could be halted to ZERO.”
World Rabies Day is more than a day of awareness – it is a call to action. Rabies is a disease that no one should die from, especially when prevention is so accessible. The fight for rabies is a shared responsibility, and together, we can make a future free from rabies a reality.
Written by Sona Berhane